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H. T; CLAY. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 327,381 Patented Sept. 29, 1885 WITNESSES: INVENTOR N. FEYERS. mummWnhlnlon, n.c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

H. T. CLAY.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY. N0. 327,381. Patented Sept. 29,- 1885.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR N. PETER5. Phmv ihcgnphcr. Wahmgtnn. II. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. CLAY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIR-D TOSAMUEL G. DIEHL, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,381, datedSeptember 29, 1.885.

(No model.)

2 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY T. CLAY. a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,

5 have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in ElectricRailways, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the acconipanying drawings, forminga part of this specification.

My invention consists of an improved rigid metallic conductor leadingthe electric current from the dynamo to the motor in the car; in aswitch forming part of said rigid metallic I 5 conductor, and in thecontact spring-brush traveling in said rigid metallic conductor;

In the accompanying drawings,FigureI is a vertical cross-section throughthe body of the car, rails, and metallic conductor. Fig. II is a'vertical section of the rigid metallic conductor and springcontact-brushes; Fig. III,

a similiar view of the brush-arm, showing how it is connected with themotor, and insulated therefrom. Figs. IV andV are top and side views,respectively, of the switch in the I metallic conductor, and Fig. VI avertical section of the coupling between the joints in the metallicconductor. Figs. VII and VIII are top and side views, respectively, ofthe switch and conductor, showing the movable connections between themto bring them in and out of circuit.

It is unnecessary to describe in this specification the construction andoperation of the car, its motor, and the apparatus connected therewith,all these parts being old and well known.

Between rails C 0, held on sleepers D D in the usual manner, are placedsupportingblocks E E, against which are secured,respectively, two rigidmetallic conductors, F F, constructed of the form shown in Fig. VI-thatis to say, open at the bottom and with a flat upper surface on theinterior. These conductors are electrically connected with the dynamowhich provides the current, and by means of these conductors the currentis passed to a contact-brush caused to travel therein by means ofmechanism connecting with the car. These brushes are constructed, asshown in Fig. II, of two flat springs curved substantially as showntherein, forthe purpose hereinafter described.

The springs G G are secured to the arm G, and are flat metal springsacting as contactbrushes. They are so arranged that in nornial positionneither G or G2 are in contact with the rigid metallic conductor, and tostart the car an ordinary pressure on the lever L bringsthe springs G incontact with the interior upper flat surface of the conductor F, therebyleading the electric current to the motor through the wires M M. Anincreased pressure on the lever L, for the purpose of obtainingincreased current and speeding the car, will bring also the springsGinto contact with said conductor. The said arm G is secured to thelever-arm P by means of a bolt, H, and is insulated by means of rubberH, placed between said arms and said bolt. (See yo Fig. III.)

The rigid metallic conductorF is composed of sections flanged at eachend,(see Fig. VI,) and so secured together as a whole. At suitable ordesirable places in said rigid metallic conductors, corresponding withswitches in the road-bed, are placed switches. (Shown in Figs. IV andV.) The switch consists of two connecting pieces, K K, corresponding inshape with the conductor E, connected together by a knuckle-joint, N,and may be automatically turned by any suitable means or mechanism.\Vhen in position,the upper inner surface is in line with upper internafiat surface of the conductor, and presents a continuous surface for thecontact -brnsh springs. lVhen it is desired to shift the current to anew conductor,one of the sections K is moved to bring it in linetherewith.

which the switch is to be shifted shall form an electrical connectiontherewith by means of such spring pressing against the other and innerside of the said lip a of the switch, this construction being shown andits operation indicated in Fig. VII.

It is obvious that the spring S may be secured to the lip on of theswitch-armK,instead of to the conductor, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a railway for the propulsion of a car provided with an electricmotor, a rigid metallic conductor, F, constructed,as described, with afiat upper internal surface, and sup ported between the rails, incombination with one or more adjustable contact spring-brushes, G G withmeans to support the same and bring one or more of them, while moving insaid conductor, against the upper internal surface thereof, whereby theelectric current is supplied or led from said conductor to said motor,substantially as set forth.

2. The con1bination,with the rigid metallic conductor of an electricrailway, of an adj ustable contact device consisting of the insulatedarm G and flat metallic spring G with mechanism, substantially asdescribed, to bring said spring-brush G into electrical contact with theinterior surface of said conductor from time to time, as may be desired,as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric railway provided with a rigid metallic conductor, theswitch herein described,consisting of arms K K, joint N,lip n, andspring S, constructed and operating substantially as set forth. ,7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 17th dayof January, A. D. 0

HENRY T. CLAY.

XVitnesscs:

FRANCIS S. BROWN, HENRY A. MoMURRoW.

